interesting set of events happening down in atlanta with adam hamilton facilitating, participating, and blogging a meeting of pastors from some of the largest united methodist churches in the united states.
it has given john some point to reflect on. what is the role and place of the smaller church in a world that seems to crave the larger corporate church with mall flavor?
i have been the skeptic of the mega-church, and continue to be. however, i have been to some and felt there is some fine things that they accomplish, and i have benefited from some things put together by the likes of ginghamsburg and church of the resurrection.
my thoughts about this, come back to my tension on driving by the local united methodist church to get to my other umc. its a tension because as i am employed by the one church i often wonder what it is that this smaller church is doing in my parish that i live in. if i were to leave the employment of hfumc would we engage within this smaller church or keep to our larger church which has many opportunities? or would we choose the smaller parish church which meets needs of our neighbors?
i guess the big churches can talk of renewal and revitalization. i just hope they don’t loose sight of something that the smaller church innately have, a parish view.
update: the great reverend mommy has some thoughts on these happenings, which happen to be in her backyard.
I’ve been thinking about this all week myself — and wanting to write something called “In Defense of Small Congregations.”
I personally have had more intimate experiences of the Risen Christ in small churches — I have been held more responsible for my action/inaction by small churches. I’ve more friendships etc from small churches.
All the buzz this week makes me want to ask — what’s wrong with small church?
I’ve been thinking about this all week myself — and wanting to write something called “In Defense of Small Congregations.”
I personally have had more intimate experiences of the Risen Christ in small churches — I have been held more responsible for my action/inaction by small churches. I’ve more friendships etc from small churches.
All the buzz this week makes me want to ask — what’s wrong with small church?
the only thing wrong with a small church is one that tells itself that it cannot do something because it is not a big church. that’s the only thing i see wrong with it. the rest of the blame goes to the person who seeks out a church for the commodity is provides for themselves & their comfort.
the only thing wrong with a small church is one that tells itself that it cannot do something because it is not a big church. that’s the only thing i see wrong with it. the rest of the blame goes to the person who seeks out a church for the commodity is provides for themselves & their comfort.
The problem I see is a lack of connectedness in a church structure which is supposed to emphasize connection. My view is that the bigger churches should be like the state college, acting as a central resource for the whole region (district). Size and economies of scale allow the larger churches to do things and put on programs which the smaller ones have no chance to replicate, but the bigger ones should be aggressively sharing these things with their smaller, less well off brethren. this way one could have the best of both worlds: plenty of small, close-knit communities with the resources to do big and/or unusual things.
The problem I see is a lack of connectedness in a church structure which is supposed to emphasize connection. My view is that the bigger churches should be like the state college, acting as a central resource for the whole region (district). Size and economies of scale allow the larger churches to do things and put on programs which the smaller ones have no chance to replicate, but the bigger ones should be aggressively sharing these things with their smaller, less well off brethren. this way one could have the best of both worlds: plenty of small, close-knit communities with the resources to do big and/or unusual things.